38 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Ngahape Valley Farm Three of the five generations that have grown up on the farm: Dayne, Jorja and Bruce. Karen Phelps A fourth-generation Waikato dairy farming family has added another chapter to its remarkable growth story, with Dayne and Sophia Addison securing a 120-hectare neighbouring property that will eventually bring the operation’s total milking herd to 1,500 cows. “We’ve been fortunate,” says Dayne. “I came back home 15 years ago in 2011 and we were milking 370 cows. With the options of neighbouring land coming up for sale numerous times, a number of those we have been able to capitalise on. It’s all happened at ideal times too. The new Maihiihi farm, situated just south of Te Awamutu, is a dairy unit that will initially serve as a run-off block while Dayne makes some improvements before putting a dairy herd on there in two seasons’ time. The timing of the purchase proved fortuitous as it coincided perfectly with the expiry of the lease on an existing 40-hectare run-off block. “I ran a few figures and with what we’re paying for grazing and the lease it made sense to purchase the new farm and it will give us future options,” says Dayne. Dayne plans to milk 350-cows on the new unit and also use it as a platform for staff to step up within the business, possibly a contract milker position. “It’s a good size for someone to cut their teeth on without going too big too fast,” says Dayne. Infrastructure work on the property will include installing a sand trap and lining the existing pond to better utilise the recently installed stirrer, pump and traveling irrigator system, which allows spreading across approximately 30 per cent of the farm. The existing shed is a 30-aside herringbone with a good yard and will be modernised with in-shed feeding and updated plant, including automatic cup removers and an automatic teat sprayer. The overall family business now comprises five separate properties. The original home farm, approaching its centenary as Dayne’s great-grandfather acquired it in 1931 at 60 hectares is now 83 hectares and along with one other farms is owned by Dayne’s parents. “I was at Lincoln uni doing an agriculture degree in 2010 and 100 hectares came up for sale next door. Dad said he’d buy it if I wanted to come home so I took the plunge. We worked out succession planning from the get-go.” Total milking herd up to 1,500 cows Toitū-Certified Feed for Smarter, Sutainable Farming Customised nutrition solution for New Zealand farmers to help feed the world feeds.graincorp.co.nz
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